Bartomeu to the team: No one will remember the suspension if we lose the league over the six points

The decision to play Barcelona's game behind closed doors was taken in the dressing room shortly before the match began in a meeting between president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, and the squad.

However, the president already had a very clear idea of what he wanted to do since neither LaLiga nor the Mossos (Catalan Police) were going to accept a suspension of the game.

Bartomeu was accompanied by Jordi Mestre, the club's vice president of sports, and met with the players, explaining the situation to them and telling them that they would risk losing six points if the club decided to suspend the match.

"If we lose the league for those six points, no one will remember the suspension of this game, only that we are not champions," the president had said.

Most of the players were happy to play, one of them being captain, Andres Iniesta, however, he made it clear to the president: "Do not let it be us who made the decision, it's a club thing."

On the other side, was the small group including Sergi Roberto which was led by Gerard Pique.

They were outvoted as most of the staff and the president wanted to play, though Leo Messi didn't say anything.

Valverde joined the meeting later.

The attitude of the coach, always very prudent, was to play the game aware of what was at stake on the pitch, but always assuming that it was in the best interests of the club as an institution.

Armed with the response of the team, Bartomeu and Mestre went to communicate that the match would be played behind closed doors, the former suggesting that at all times the decision had been his.